Chasing glory on the green

The hallowed lawns of the All England Club are primed once more as Wimbledon 2025 kicks off today, with the world's best tennis players vying for the sport's most coveted crown.

Carlos Alcaraz returns to Centre Court with history in his sights. The 22-year-old Spaniard, winner of the past two editions, opens his campaign against 38-year-old Italian Fabio Fognini.

Fresh from conquering Jannik Sinner in a pulsating French Open final and riding an 18-match win streak, the reigning champion is vying to become just the fifth man in the Open Era to win three successive Wimbledon titles.

Standing in his way is Sinner himself, the current world number one and perhaps the most complete all-court player this season. Despite falling short in Paris, the 23-year-old Italian's powerful baseline game could be just as potent on grass.

Also looming is Novak Djokovic. At 38, the seven-time Wimbledon champion returns in pursuit of a record-equalling eighth title and an elusive 25th Grand Slam crown. Injury setbacks may have slowed his momentum, but the Serb remains a master of the big stage and cannot be written off.

On the women's side, world number one Aryna Sabalenka begins her quest against Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine. A two-time semi-finalist at Wimbledon, the Belarusian arrives determined to rewrite recent heartbreaks, including a turbulent French Open final loss to Coco Gauff.

With defending champion Barbora Krejcikova struggling with injury and a wide-open draw ahead, Sabalenka enters as the favourite.

Wildcard wonder: Xu draws her idol

Seventeen-year-old Mimi Xu adds a compelling subplot to the British narrative this year. The Welsh teenager, handed a wildcard, will make her Grand Slam debut by facing British No. 1 Emma Raducanu -- the very player who inspired her love for the sport.

"I was 13, watching Emma win the US Open with the other girls at our tennis academy," recalled Xu, one of three British players aged 17 or under in the women's draw. "Now I get to play her at Wimbledon. It's surreal."

Ranked just outside the top 300, Xu arrives on the back of two top-100 wins this summer, having balanced her rise through the ranks with A-Level biology exams. She found out about her draw in the middle of a house move.

HIGHLIGHTS:

** The first Championships were held in 1877, with 22 players competing.

** Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam still played on grass, the original surface of the sport. This Wimbledon edition offers a record £53.5 million in total prize money. The singles champions will each receive £3 million, with first-round losers guaranteed £66,000.

** 27,000 flowers are arranged annually to maintain the "tennis in an English garden" aesthetic.

** Strawberries and cream remain a Wimbledon staple -- over 190,000 portions are consumed each year.